Copying-press.



No. 673,708. Patented May 7, 190i.

E. J. DUNN.

COPYING PRESS. (Application filed Mar. 9, 1901.)

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PATENT EDIVIN JAMES DUNN, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

COPYING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,708, dated May '7, 1901.

Application filed March 9, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN JAMES DUNN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented a Copying- Press, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention is an improvement in copying-presses, and relates more especially to devices of that class which are portable and adapted for the purpose of copying letters in tissue-paper letter-books.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective device for use in connection with a letter-book and by which the letter and. leaf which is to receive the copy are properly moistened and evenly pressed together, producing a clear uniform copy without injuring the book.

With the above object in view the invention consists in the combination, with a mois-' tening and impression roller having a flap or apron, of a reinforcing-strip placed in the outer end of said flap, hooks attached to said reinforcing-strip, and an extensible rod or support engaging the back of the book, the said rod being adapted to hold the flap or apron while it is being wound upon the roller, and thereby permit sufficient tension to be exerted without the liability of tearing the leaf from the book.

The following specification enters into a detail description of the invention, reference. being had to the accompanying drawings and letters thereon, which indicate the difierent parts, and what is claimed as the novel features of construction is more specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View illustrating the application of my improved devices to a letter-book. Fig. 2 is a side view of the device. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the reinforcing-strip. Fig. 4.- is a detail view of the extensible rod or holder. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modification of the holder.

In carrying out my invention I employ a roller A, preferably made of Wood, and upon this roller is tightly wrapped a sheet of fabric or other flexible material, forming an envelop B and flap or apron B, the said onvelop being attached to the roller by means of a row of tacks b, as shown. At the outer Serial No. 50,488. (No modelend of the flap or apron B is attached a re inforcing-strip c,consisting of a strip of metalover which the edge of the fabric is folded and bound. To this reinforcing-strip are attached hooks D.

In connection with the device hereinbefo're described I employ an extensible rod or holder E, which is adapted to be placed in engagement with the book in such manner as to hold the end of the flap during the operation of taking a copy of a letter. In order that this rod may be connected to books of different sizes and also that it may be readily placed in engagement with the book, it is composed of two sections slidable upon each other, an end of each section being formed into an eye 6, through which the other section slides. The ends of this extensible rod are formed into hooks 6, with the bill of each hook turned as shown. In applying this rod it is located at the back of the letter-book, the latter being open to the page or sheet upon which a letter is to be copied, and the hooks are brought over the edges,'as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the said hooks forming a curved portion for engagement of hooks D therewith, while the ends are turned to assist in holding the book open.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the devices embodying my invention consist of the adjustable rod or holder E and the impression-roller A, with its apron or flap.

In the operation of copying a letter the holder E is applied to the backof the book, as hereinbet'ore described. The flap or apron B is then spread upon the book, with the hooks D in engagement with the rod or holder, the roller falling beyond the end of the book to stretch the flap, so that it will lie smoothly upon the leaf of the letter-book next to the one that is to receive'the copy. Now in making up the material to be compressed by said roller and flap a sheet of paper is first placed upon the flap. The letter is then placed upon this sheet and the tissue-leaf of the book spread over the same. Upon the tissue-leaf is spread a moistened cloth or fabric to provide for moistening the tissue-leaf and letter and produce the imprint required. The material resting upon the flap is now wound upon the roller with said flap and held amoment or two until an impression is taken. It

will be noted that in winding the roller it can be pulled upon to tightly wind the material thereon, and this tension will not tear the leaf of the book, as the flap is held by the rod or support. the material very tightly upon the roller and of course will resultin not only taking a quick copy, but also a clear uniform copy. The devices therefore provide for taking presscopies of letters by means of a portable device that can be readily applied to a letterbook. However, it will be understood that in some cases, especially where the device is used in an ofl'ice, a stationary holder may be employed for holding the flap. It is also apparent that handles may be attached to the end of the roller, if desired; but experience has shown that the roller can be better manipulated by handling the same nearer the center.

It will be understood that in taking a copy neither the flap nor the envelop of the roller is moistened and that the required moisture is supplied by the extra sheet of absorbent material, which may be either a fabric or a piece of thick blotting-paper. It is therefore not necessary that the said flap and envelop be of absorbent material.

The device is simple and can be easily operated, and by providing for tension in winding the flap upon the roller a perfect copy It is therefore practical to wind will be had, as the flap is wound with uniform pressure. In the modification I have shown the holder consisting of a back plate F, having outturned ends, through which passes an extensible rod having eyes a for the engagement of the hooks D.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. in a letter-copying device, the combination, of a roller, a flap or apron attached thereto, an adjustable rod having hooks at its ends adapted to engage the back of a let ter-book, and hooks at the outer end of the flap, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a letter-copyin g device, the combination, of a roller, a flap or apron attached thereto, a reinforcing-strip attached to the outer end of said flap, and hooks secured to said strip; together with an adjustable rod having hooks at its ends adapted to engage the edge of a letter-book and be engaged by the aforesaid hooks, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN JAMES DUNN.

Witnesses:

W. H. SUTTON, W. S. BOORE. 

